Five teams in the Murray Football League are eyeing finals football, while a sixth just about sewed up its position to play in late August and September.

Following a comprehensive 3.10 (28) to 16.8 (104) victory over Echuca United, Numurkah is two wins and significant percentage ahead in sixth-place with three rounds to go in the MFL season.

While Echuca United has won just four games this season, the Eagles have been no easy beats, recording a draw against Congupna earlier this season and entered the round 17 clash in winning form.

It was the Blues that were off to a flyer however, kicking 4.1 (25) to two behinds in the opening term to set up a winning day at the office.

Numurkah would then kick the first three goals of the second quarter to produce a seven-goal unanswered run, leading by 41 points, before the Eagles finally found an avenue to goal at the 20th minute mark of the term.

The Blues squeezed in another behind by the half time siren to lead 7.2 (44) to 1.3 (9) at the main break.

While the Eagles were strong out of the sheds, booting the opening two majors of the second half, Numurkah responded with four consecutive goals of its own to increase the lead to 45 at three-quarter-time.

But the demolition job wasn’t over, the Blues saving their best until last, kicking 5.4 to three behinds in the final term to win by 76 points at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.

Blue Harry Hopkins was named best on ground while mid-season recruit Brent Arho kicked six for Numurkah.

The win places Numurkah eight premiership points ahead of seventh-placed Moama, and with an advantage of about 38 per cent too.

The Blues still have a bye to come in the league’s final round though, but the Mowers will have to defeat top four teams Cobram and Nathalia, as well as Rumbalara, plus hope Numurkah lose to Congupna and Echuca United.

On Saturday, it was Moama’s 4.2 (26) to 13.9 (87) loss to Finley that further compounded the significant gap between sixth and seventh on the ladder, with the Cats claiming their fifth victory of 2026.

Elsewhere, a blockbuster early finals preview between Mulwala and Cobram saw the Tigers pepper the scoreboard, albeit inaccurately, winning 10.20 (80) to 8.8 (56) at Lonsdale Oval.

Registering four behinds to Mulwala’s one straight goal in the opening term, the Tigers continued to kick poorly for goal in the second quarter, adding 2.8 to their tally while the Lions were able to find the middle of the big sticks with more frequency, kicking 3.4 for the term, leaving Cobram trailing 24-28 heading into the rooms.

While the Tigers again enjoyed the run of play after the main break, errant kicking continued to plague their forays forward, though a return of 2.6 in the third term while restricting the home side to 1.2 handed the reigning premier the lead at the final change by one straight kick.

In the end, Cobram found its radar when it mattered, kicking away with a much more accurate 6.2 final term to win by an eventual 24 points, with Tyron Baden (three goals), Hugh Hyde (one goal) and Perry Lewis-Smith (two goals) leading the way as the most influential.

The round’s other contests saw Congupna crush Rumbalara by 126 points, 20.23 (143) to 2.5 (17), while Tongala clings to fifth after defeating Deniliquin by 65 points, 5.8 (38) to 15.13 (103).

Nathalia had the bye in round 17.

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Sunday, 5th June 2033

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